Britain has announced an expansion of its military support for Saudi Arabia against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, including defensive air patrols by Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter jets.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said RAF Typhoon jets would conduct defensive counter-air operations over Saudi Arabia to help protect its cities, civilian population and critical infrastructure from missile and drone attacks launched by the Iran-backed Houthis.
He stressed that the British aircraft would not carry out strikes against Houthi targets. Streeting also announced that the UK would deploy a military transport aircraft and an unspecified number of military advisers to Saudi Arabia.
Earlier, Britain had pledged to provide aerial refuelling support for Saudi aircraft conducting operations against the Houthis. The mission has now been extended by a further 90 days.
The conflict between Yemen’s Houthi rebels and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government has intensified again, with the Houthis launching missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia.